Actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, music producer Don
Jazzy, writer Chimama Adichie and musicians P-Square
have been named one of Africa's 100 Most Influential
People in 2013 by the New African Magazine
Other Africans in the list include Ghanaian/US actor Idris
Elba, Nigerian/UK actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sudan
supermodel Alek Wek, South African comedian Trevo Noah,
South African fashion mogul, Precious Moloi-Motsepe and
Senegalese actor Omar Sy . Well deserved. See the full list
below....
Idris Elba, Actor - Sierra Leone/Ghana
A much sought-after film and television actor, Elba was
born in London to a Sierra Leonean father and Ghanaian
mother. He has taken both Hollywood and TV acting by
storm, in hits such as The Wire and Luther . But film critics
believe his lead character in the recently released the film
adaption of Nelson Mandela’s autobiography Long Walk To
Freedom, – which has already been awarded the British
Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Los Angeles
Britannia Humanitarian Award – could be the- game
changing role of his career.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Author - Nigeria
Adichie is unstoppable. 2013 has been yet another good
year for this daughter of Nigerian soil with two major
accomplishments to file under her name: the release, to
unprecedented acclaim, of her much anticipated novel
Americanah and the release of the movie adaptation of her
novel Half of a Yellow Sun , starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and
Thandie Newton. Yes, it has been a good year, but Adichie
does not look like a lady who will be slowing down in 2014.
As someone who is not afraaid to confront the difficult
subjects of race, gender and politics, and is a proud African,
who continues to campaign against the one-story narrative
about Africa, we can't wait to see what she will do next.
Alek Wek , Supermodel - South Sudan
The influential fashion magazine I:D has dubbed her “Model
of the Decade”. The US’s People magazine listed her as one
of the “50 Most Beautiful People”. But the Sudanese
model’s influence extends far beyond the fashion world and
societal concepts of beauty. As a former refugee, Alek
knows what it is like to be forced to flee one’s home.
Hence, she is a passionate advocate for refugee rights. She
is a world- acclaimed role model who transcends her
industry.
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Actor - Nigeria/UK
Chiwetel Ejiofor has the lead role in two of 2013’s biggest
films – 12 Years A Slave, directed by Steve McQueen, and
the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s award-
winning novel, Half of A Yellow Sun, directed by Biyi
Bandele. His portrayal of former South African president
Thabo Mbeki in the new Channel 4 drama Endgame was
also another stellar performance. Prior to the theatre
release of both films, Ejiofor won critical acclaim for his
portrayal of Patrice Lumumba in A Season in The Congo, a
theatre production about the first democratically elected
leader of the DRCongo at The Young Vic theatre in London.
Born to Nigerian parents in the UK, the award-winning actor
is garnering an Oscar buzz for his mesmerising
performance in 12 Years A Slave. The roles he has taken on
this year prove once again what an African A-list, Oscar-
deserving actor he is. Will 2014 be his year?
David Adjaye , Architect - Ghana/UK
David Adjaye is a Ghanaian-British whose architectural firm
won the contract to design and build the US Smithsonian
National Museum of African-American History and Culture
in Washington DC, which is due to be unveiled in two years.
Adjaye admits this is one of the most important
commissions of his career. At the young age of 45, he has
accomplished what most in his career can only dream of.
His firm has also been shortlisted in a competition to build
the National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa. Adjaye is one
of a handful of African architects with global renown,
transcending his profession to become a global
commentator on architecture, design and politics.
DJ Sbu , Producer - South Africa
Sbusiso Leope, popularly known as DJ Sbu, is not only a
media personality and businessman but through his music
and his engagement with the South African youth he has
become a cult figure and is considered an epitome of South
African popular culture. Despite his harsh upbringing in the
deprived township of Tembisa, he has overcome his
obstacles and is today helping shape positive youth culture.
He hosts the Sound Reviva l show on Metro radio and
appears on the most popular TV game show in the country
– Friends Like These. He co-owns the record label TS
Records with TK Nciza, and the current South African
premier music sensation Zahara is signed to their label.
Sbu has truly inspired many, particularly the youth this past
year. He gives three talks a week to disadvantaged schools
around South Africa and helps offer bursaries and
mentorship.
Don Jazzy , Music Producer - Nigeria
One cannot talk about contemporary Nigerian music without
a mention of Don Jazzy, described as Africa’s number one
beat maker. Founder and CEO of Mavin Records, Michael
Collins Ajereh, 31, is better known as Don Jazzy and is an
award-winning record producer and singer-songwriter.
Before he set up Mavin Records, he was head to Mo’ Hit
Records, which at its height was home to some of Nigeria’s
most successful artists, like D’Banj. He has produced hit
songs for some of the biggest names in Nigeria’s music
industry including; D’Banj, Tiwa Savage, Dr SID and Wande
Coal.
Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe , Fashion - South Africa
A businesswoman and humanitarian, Dr Precious Moloi-
Motsepe has redefined the African fashion landscape with
the yearly showcases produced by African Fashion
International (AFI), the company behind Mercedes-Benz
fashion weeks in South Africa. A medical doctor by
profession and a fashion connoisseur by passion, she
transitioned into the fashion world when she realised that
the fashion and clothing industry can play an important role
in entrepreneurship. She has since gone on to place the
African fashion industry on a global platform through AFI.
She also heads the Motsepe Family Foundation, which
focuses on projects that positively impact on people’s
health, education and the nurturing of young talent.
El Anatsui, Artist - Ghana
He is revered by critics and art lovers on both sides of the
Atlantic, and an inspiration to a young generation of African
artists. El Anatsui is one of the most exciting contemporary
visual artists on the international art scene today. His work
transcends boundaries and he has received widespread
international acclaim for his sculptural experiments. His
iconic “bottle-top installations” have provoked international
attention with institutions queuing up to acquire these
monumental work for their art space. Over time, his work,
which is mostly compromised of large external installations,
has been installed and exhibited in some of the world’s
most prestigious art institutions.
Lupita Nyong'o , Actress - Kenya
Lupita Nyong’o’s breakout role as Patsey – a brutally
abused plantation worker – in 12 Years A Slave, has earned
her an Oscar buzz for her first feature film. She recently won
the New Hollywood Award at the annual Hollywod Film
Awards. Prior to 12 Years A Slave, she starred in the
ground-breaking MTV Base series Shuga , about “the lives
of sexually active young Kenyans [which] highlights the
risks associated with unprotected sex” and the impact of
HIV/Aids. Her role as Ayira catapulted Nyong’o to the
attention of audiences in Kenya, and across Africa.
Omar Sy , Actor - Senegal
Omar Sy, half Senegalese and half Mauritian, has been
described as France's first black superstar, making waves
by starring in the highly acclaimed and highest grossing
French film in decades, The Intouchables . He received the
Caesar Award, the French equivalent of an Oscar, for the
role. This has catapulted Sy to global recognition and he
will feature in the upcoming X-Men - Days of Future
Past movie. 2014 looks good for this young, gifted and
African talent.
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde , Actress - Nigeria
To her global fans, Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade
Ekeinde embodies true African beauty beyond measure. But
there is more to the Nigerian sex bomb popular known as
Omosexy. The gorgeous actress and mother of four’s
meteoric rise in 2013 – a year which saw her become the
first African celebrity to reach 1 million likes on Facebook,
and named as one of the most influential people in the world
by Time magazine for their annual Time 100 list. Her debut
reality show, Omotola: The Real Me, made headlines as the
most popular TV series across Africa. But that was not all!
It fixated her millions of fans, revealing fascinating insights
into one of Africa’s most recognised faces. She is also
increasingly becoming a social activist in her own right,
although a vocal critic of the current African political
dispensation. Despite her popularity, she has no political
ambitions. Yet.
P Square , Musicians Nigeria
Peter and Paul Okoyo have defined and set a benchmark for
a new generation of Nigerian and African artists to follow
with their energetic and infectious sound. According to the
MTV Africa Website, their music is “Afrocentric in that it
combines western and African rhythms in creating a
marvellous blend of R&B, Hip Hop and Dancehall songs.”
Hit after hit, the twin brothers have become apt at giving
audiences songs that cut across age, gender and
geographical boundaries. They are arguably Nigeria’s
biggest musical export in the last few years, and have
collaborated with some of the world’s biggest hip-hop
artists, like Akon.
Trevor Noah , Comedian - South Africa
Trevor Noah grew up in Soweto, and has used his life
experiences to build a career as a comedian of note,
possibly being Africa’s most internationally popular
comedian. Noah started working on stage and television in
South Africa, but has since spread his wings, selling out
tours in Europe and the US.
Fatoumata Diawaraa , Musician - Mali
The multi-talented Malian singer-songwriter is truly a non-
conformist; she defied tradition and escaped Mali as a
teenager when under pressure from her family to get
married. Today, Diawara is using her music to expose the
cultural prejudices faced by women across Africa and the
world. Her self-titled debut album, Fatou was released to
international acclaim. She has toured Europe and the US
and earlier this year organised renowned musicians across
Mali to do a Peace song for the nation during the days it
was under threat from militants.
NoViolet Bulawayo , Author - Zimbabwe NoViolet Bulawayo
won the Caine Prize for African writing in 2012, and this
year has been shortlisted for the coveted Man Booker Prize
for her novel We Need New Names. This makes her the first
black African woman and the first Zimbabwean to be
accorded this honour. With accolades from far and wide for
the beautifully written We Need New Names , not only will
she continue to play an important role in African writing,
there is no doubt that a new star of African female writing is
truly born. The one-to-watch.
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